Seven weeks have passed since the Socorro City Council opened the application process to fill the seat vacated by city Rep. Luis Varela.

But so far, no one has applied.

"No such applications have been filed," said David Garcia, a Socorro city spokesman.

Varela resigned from office in December after he was arrested by sheriff's deputies on suspicion of selling marijuana and possessing cocaine. County records show that his trial is scheduled to start April 11.

Garcia said candidates have until March 15 to fill out the paperwork for a special election. The election will take place May 14.

City Attorney Jerry Wallace said that nothing in the city charter deals with the absence of candidates.

"It will be interesting. The city charter has no provision for that," he said.

While there are no candidates to fill the post on the City Council, a group of residents is hoping to remove at least one of the remaining four council members.

Socorro resident Ralph Duran said the group turned in 600 signatures to the city secretary to recall city at-large Rep. Guillermo "Willie" Madrid. If the signatures are certified, Madrid may face a recall election in May.

The city secretary has until March 14 to validate the signatures.

In the May election, voters will also decide whether they want to recall indicted Mayor Guillermo "Willie" Gandara Sr.

Gandara was indicted by a federal grand jury in September on suspicion of committing fraud while he was a school board member in Socorro.

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On Dec. 1, the council passed an ordinance to have an election and let the voters decide whe ther they want to recall Gandara and Varela. But Varela's resignation terminated the recall process against him.